Riyad as-Salihin, 760

Sahl bin Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:

A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he drank (some) from it. On his right was a boy and on his left were some elderly people. He (ﷺ) said to the boy, "Would you permit me to give rest of this drink to these on my left?" The boy said: "O Messenger of Allah, I would certainly not give preference to anyone in anything that might come to me from you." So he (ﷺ) handed over the rest of the drink to him. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

وعن سهل بن سعد رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أتى بشراب، فشرب منه وعن يمينه غلام، وعن يساره أشياخ، فقال للغلام‏:‏ ‏

‏أتأذن لي أن أعطى هؤلاء‏.‏‏؟‏‏

‏ فقال الغلام‏:‏ لا والله ، لا أوثر بنصيبي منك أحدا، فتله رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في يده‏.‏((متفق عليه)) ‏

References1 variant

In-Book Reference: Book 2, Hadith 34

Sharh · explanationclick to expand

Guidance from the Hadiths: 1) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was keen to begin with the right in all his affairs, as reported by ‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her): “He used to prefer the right side in everything.” 2) The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) gave precedence to the less meritorious over the more meritorious, as Abu Bakr was undoubtedly more meritorious than the Bedouin. Yet, beginning with the right is the Sunnah. A fortunate person would make the Prophet’s Sunnah govern all his life and be the motive behind his speech, actions, and conditions. Benefit: There is a common saying among the scholars that “there should be no altruism in acts of piety”, as previously quoted from Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him). However, some verifying scholars maintained that such altruism is permissible. In his book "Zād al-Ma‘ād Fi Hady Khayr al-‘Ibād", the erudite scholar Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him), in the course of listing the benefits of the battle of Taif, said: “These include the complete love felt by Abu Bakr for him... Hence, he appealed to Al-Mughirah to let him convey to the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) the good news that the delegation of Taif was coming... This indicates that it is permissible for a man to ask his brother to prefer him with regard to some pious act, and it is permissible for the other person to do so. Incorrect is the scholarly view declaring such preference impermissible. ‘Ā’ishah gave precedence to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb as she allowed him to be buried in her house beside the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). He asked her for that... So, if someone asks someone else to give precedence to him and let him stand in the first row, this request is not disliked, nor is granting it. If we ponder the Companions’ life, we will find that they did not dislike that. Indeed, this is nothing but generosity and altruism by giving what is dearest to oneself just to make a fellow Muslim happy, show appreciation for him... and endear good things to him...” End quote [summarized].

Related hadiths4